A new chapter for culinary education in Edinburgh

We’re proud to share that Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is evolving into the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy.

This is more than a new name. It’s a clearer expression of who we already are and where we’re going next.

For more than 17 years, we have delivered professional cookery courses in Edinburgh, welcomed leisure cooks into our kitchens, partnered with businesses and supported chefs across Scotland. And we’re so proud of what our alumni have achieved with the skills, knowledge and confidence they gained with us.

But the food and drink landscape has changed. Education, innovation, sustainability and skills now sit side by side. The term “cookery school” no longer captures the breadth of our ambition or our impact.

The Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy reflects our role as a home for food and drink education, collaboration and progression; rooted in Edinburgh, connected to the UK and reaching internationally.

Why we’re evolving

Demand for culinary education is growing, but it looks different to a decade ago. Professional chefs are seeking flexible, hybrid learning. Career changers want accredited qualifications that lead to real opportunities. Hospitality businesses need CPD and upskilling to retain talent. Corporate organisations are looking for inclusive, food-led experiences that bring people together.

At the same time, Scotland’s reputation for produce, provenance and innovation has never been stronger. Edinburgh is recognised globally as a destination for food and drink; yet there remains a need for a central hub that connects education, industry and community.

The Academy exists to meet that need. And we meet that need for people with an interest in food and drink here in Scotland, across the UK and from around the world. Our students are a truly international bunch.

We are expanding our professional chef training in Edinburgh, developing shorter and hybrid formats, building CPD pathways and strengthening partnerships across hospitality, tourism and the public sector. We are investing in streaming and online delivery to extend our reach beyond 7 Queen Street. We are creating space for entrepreneurship, innovation and thought leadership alongside hands-on learning.

This evolution aligns our name with our purpose.

Cookery School to Academy: What’s changing

Our name becomes Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy.

Our positioning moves from a traditional cookery school to a UK-leading home for food and drink; where education, innovation and collaboration sit at the core.

Our language shifts from simply offering cooking classes in Edinburgh to elevating standards, growing talent pipelines and supporting the future of hospitality and food education.

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Chair of the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, said, “This rebrand is a statement of intent. Food connects us in ways few other things can, and the Academy exists to harness this power. We are a home for food and drink, a place where people build culinary and life skills, grow confidence and turn ambition into opportunity.

We are committed to making the world of food and drink more inclusive and accessible, and to creating an environment where innovation thrives. This new brand captures who we already are and the impact we are here to make.”

What’s not changing

Our standards remain uncompromising.

Professional excellence, safety and quality are non-negotiable. Our experienced tutors continue to bring deep industry expertise into real kitchens, grounded in real outcomes.

Our values remain constant: curiosity, integrity, progression and a sustainably minded approach guide every decision.

Our hands-on ethos remains central. We believe culinary education happens by doing; not just watching.

And our home remains Edinburgh. The city is our launchpad, not our limit.

What this means for you

If you’re considering a professional cookery course in Scotland, the Academy offers accredited, industry-led training designed to prepare you for modern kitchens and evolving food systems. We combine practical skills with commercial understanding and an awareness of inclusive diets and sustainability. Our ambition is not simply to teach recipes, but to equip you for a career.

If you’re a chef or hospitality professional, our CPD courses provide focused upskilling in areas that matter now; from special diets to scaling formulations and operational excellence.

If you’re a business or organisation, we offer inclusive team-building, client experiences and innovation workshops that do more than entertain. Food brings people together; we harness that power to create connection and progress.

If you love cooking, our interest courses and demonstrations continue to celebrate technique, creativity and Scottish ingredients in an inspiring, welcoming environment.

Create. Connect. Elevate.

Food and drink have a unique ability to bring people together across disciplines and sectors. Education elevates skills and outcomes. Collaboration accelerates change.

These principles sit at the heart of the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy.

We create skills, knowledge and ideas that move the sector forward.

We connect chefs, producers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and communities.

We elevate standards, ambition and opportunity; from individual careers to Scotland’s wider gastronomic reputation.

The rebrand clarifies who we are. It does not change what we stand for.

Join us in the next chapter

As we launch our new website and identity, we invite you to explore what the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy can offer, whether that’s professional chef training in Edinburgh, cooking classes, CPD for hospitality teams or collaborative partnerships.

This is an evolution grounded in experience and driven by ambition.

Edinburgh has long been a city of ideas, craft and culture. The Academy is here to ensure its food and drink future is just as distinctive.

Explore our courses, connect with our team, or book an informal conversation to see where your next step could begin.